All Things Solo

PART III - Theory of Solo Combat Strategy & Tactics

Strategy

Strategy is the art of planning, organizing and directing overall military operations and movements in combat. It differs from tactics by staying on the theory side of things. In terms of game play, it is your overall plan to achieve your main goal by going through level progression and directing your efforts into winning your battles until the last boss is dead. This is done by thinking in terms of logistics:

• WHAT can be used for WHICH of my specific purposes? These can be abilities and spells that your build provides, weapons, items, methods, plans, etc... Search and Gather them.
• HOW can they be organized into a coherent whole? Little jigsaw puzzle game.
• WHERE should each part be directed towards? To focus your efforts into a practical goal.
• And a general theory of HOW they can be applied into practical terms.
• After you have an idea of your overall plan, next thing to do is the appliance of these parts in Tactical phase.

Tactics

Tactics is the art of of organizing operations and of disposing what's in your arsenal in order of battle, especially during contact with an enemy. It differs from strategy by being on the practical action level rather than abstract thinking level.

It is the answer to the question of How exactly your PC will achieve resolving hot conflict?

• Deploy your PC in a place where you have least amount of threat and effective Zone Control
• Move depending on Weapon Range, Enemy Positions & Numbers, Tactical Situations
• Use Cover to your advantage while forcing the enemy to lose their cover
• Attack with a carefully prioritized hit list of monster composition in mind
• OR Defend yourself in a tactical position until an opportune time comes to strike.

Theory of Solo Combat Strategy

Strategy is making hard decisions with incomplete data.

The "Theory of Solo Combat Strategy" refers to the principles, concepts, and guidelines that players can utilize when engaging in combat encounters with a single player character in a tabletop roleplaying game. It focuses specifically on strategies that are effective and efficient when tackling combat encounters without the support of a group or party.

The theory encompasses various elements, including decision-making on prioritizing, choosing, adding & managing resources for your class build to mobilize them in a focused way for victory in the battlefield.

Key Aspects:

Self-sufficiency: Solo players must know how to build characters that are self-sufficient and capable of handling various combat situations on their own. This may involve selecting classes, abilities, and spells that provide a mix of offense, defense, and utility for different scenarios without being too circumstantial.

Independent Decision-making: Solo players must make decisions on their own, weighing the risks and rewards of different actions, spells, and strategies before & during combat encounters. They have to determine the best course of action, considering their character's abilities, resources, and the combat situation at hand. Creating window of opportunities for such considerations in dangerous environments is part of the process.

Resource Management: Solo players need to manage their resources effectively, including hit points, spells, abilities, and limited consumable items. They must make choices on how and when to use their limited resources to maximize their effectiveness and survivability without being wasteful. Getting access to these resources in relation to current situation should be their first priority.

Risk Assessment: Solo players must assess the risks involved in combat encounters and make decisions accordingly BEFORE entering into combat as much as possible. They need to identify high-priority targets, potential threats, and advantageous opportunities, and prioritize their actions and resources accordingly.

Terrain and Deployment Plans: Solo players should take advantage of the terrain and positioning during combat encounters. They need to position themselves strategically to gain benefits from cover, obstacles, or favorable vantage points. They should also aim to control the battlefield and manipulate enemy movements to their advantage. A reconnaissance mission before each key encounter makes the decision-making process easier to nagivate.

Preparation and Knowledge: Solo players should be prepared for combat encounters by equipping themselves with the necessary gear, spells, and information. They should have knowledge about their character's abilities and limitations, as well as an understanding of the enemies they may face.

Adaptation and Flexibility: Solo players must be adaptable and flexible, capable of adjusting their strategies based on evolving circumstances of combat encounters. They need to be prepared to change their main plan, react to unexpected events, and make the most out of the opportunities presented to them.

These principles and strategies can help players navigate the unique challenges of solo combat, allowing them to succeed and overcome encounters designed for a full party. By utilizing effective decision-making, resource management, positioning, and adaptability, solo players can tackle combat encounters with strategic finesse and emerge victorious.

Theory of Solo Combat Tactics

“If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected .” - Sun Tzu, The Art of War

The "Theory of Solo Combat Tactics" refers to the practical application and execution of strategies, techniques, and maneuvers that allow a single player character to effectively utilize their resources during battle encounters.

It involves making informed decisions and taking specific actions to optimize the PC's chances of success and ensure efficient use of their abilities and items. Tactics in solo combat focus on the practical aspects of combat and how to make the most out of available resources in a given situation.

Key Aspects:

Environmental Exploitation: Awareness and utilization of the environment play an important role in solo combat tactics. Recognizing and leveraging environmental features or hazards, such as traps, obstacles, or advantageous terrain, can provide tactical advantages to the PC and hinder enemies.

Positioning & Maneuvering: Tactical movement and positioning are crucial in solo combat to capture favorable zones of control. PCs should aim to position themselves strategically to gain tactical advantages, such as cover, flanking positions, or exploiting vulnerabilities of enemies. Maneuvering effectively can also help avoid dangerous situations such as in avoidance of area-of-effect spells or getting surrounded.

Target Priority and Focus Fire: Solo players need to identify high-value targets and determine their priority for elimination. By focusing their attacks and abilities on key threats or enemies with the potential to significantly impact the battle, the PCs can increase their chances of success.

Resource Management: Successful solo combat tactics involve careful management of resources such as hit points, armor class, abilities, spell slots, and consumable items. PCs should make decisions that maximize their resource usage in a way that ensures efficient progress through encounters without exhausting their crucial assets too soon. Much like depleting resources too early is a bad habit, greedily saving them is also hinders your effectiveness in combat; balance must be preserved throughout a chain of encounters depending on checkpoints.

Action Economy Optimization: Efficiently utilizing the PC's available action slots is fundamental in solo combat. This includes taking advantage of bonus actions, reactions, and multi-attack options when they are available. It may involve using an action to cast a control spell, a bonus action to make an extra attack, and a reaction to employ a defensive ability all in one turn. It is important to mention that Opportunity Attacks for Martials can also be utilized outside of the PC's turn by baiting enemies into getting out of the PC's control zone within their current turn.

Ability and Spell Usage: Tactical choices are made when selecting the abilities, spells, and items that the PC will utilize in combat encounters. This involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the PC and tailoring their selection to match the challenges they are likely to face to counter enemy forces.

Adaptation and Reactivity: Solo players must remain adaptable and ready to adjust their tactics on the fly as the situation evolves. They should react to changing circumstances, employ counter-tactics against surprise attacks, by anticipation, and seize opportunities as they present themselves.

By employing effective solo combat tactics, players can optimize their character's actions and resources, increase their survivability, and enhance their chances of victory in battle encounters. These practical approaches and decision-making processes ensure that the PC's resources are utilized or preserved effectively and efficiently during contact with enemies.

NOTE: Practical examples will be added to comments, later.